General: Backbenchers’ pay increase confirmed

The latest remuneration packages for MPs and the members of provincial legislatures gazetted on Friday have spared most elected representatives the drudgery of soldiering on for another year without an increase (Business Insider). This, notes Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch, appears to apply to every public representative now on the receiving end of an annual package worth less than R1.5m. From 1 April, the lowliest National Assembly backbencher will receive R1,137,933 per annum – 2.8% more than the R1,106,940 to which he/she is now entitled (Africa Check). An MP’s basic, pensionable salary constitutes 60% of the total remuneration package. According to Business Insider, packages received by Deputy President David Mabuza, Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers will remain as they are now.

It is not clear from available documents if MPs are subjected to performance agreements, although their attendance at committee meetings is closely monitored. Unfortunately, the quality of their input is not, as Parliamentary Monitoring Group records often illustrate – albeit unwittingly. This is especially noticeable during discussions on matters financial or technical, tending to point to an aversion to research and homework. As a result, Bills are often passed without MPs fully understanding the issues – the 2017 Copyright Amendment Bill being the most recent case in point. The beleaguered 2017 Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill could well be doomed to end up as another.